Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be – The Story of Bon Scott

The legend of Bon Scott will be ever present in February when Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be – The Story of Bon Scott rocks the National Theatre in the week of the 40th anniversary of the release of AC~DC’s iconic film clip for It’s a Long way to the Top.

The show is narrated and sung by Australian music legend Nick Barker with an incredible four-piece rock line up including Ash Naylor from the RocKwiz Orkestra. It tells the story of Bon Scott’s life – his childhood, his family, his secrets, the bands that came before his rise to fame with AC~DC, and his rock and roll dreams.

Helpmann award-winning producer Andrew Barker was inspired to explore and write Bon’s story after co-creatingTHE MAN IN BLACK: THE JOHNNY CASH STORY. “It’s always struck me that Bon Scott was a working class hero and underdog and like Cash he had a unique story separate to the band, as fascinating as it was moving and intriguing, ” Andrew said.

“The story is so familiar that it’s in everyone’s memory as if we were all there. AC~DC, riding high through the middle of Melbourne in the 1970s, singing the story of life on the road, of dreams and broken promises, of the long way to the top. At the centre of the band stood a man with bagpipes and a wicked grin – Bon Scott. Bon’s bravado was famous, his survival skills finely tuned, and at that time he was ready to be a rock and roll superstar. “

Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be follows Bon’s life from Scotland to Australia, through his hell-raising teenage years and the bands that came before AC~DC – the Spektors, the Valentines and Fraternity. From hippie epiphanies to bubblegum pop to the iconic early years of AC~DC the show celebrates the music, the heartbreak and the life of Bon Scott – a quintessential rock and roll story that ended far too soon.

Nick Barker who has performed the lead role since 2011 said, “Bon lived in Lansdowne Street East St. Kilda and it feels really fitting to be performing this show in his old stomping ground.”

“Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be is part narrative, part rock concert and you will discover things you will never have known about him. It’s going to be fantastic to crank up the sound and play the songs that tell the story of his life.”

Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be – The Story of Bon Scott is on Friday 26 February to Sunday 28 February at The National Theatre, 20 Carlisle Street St Kilda (cnr Barkly Street). Tickets $42.50 to $50 (plus transaction fee) available at www.nationaltheatre.org.au

Please note: The show is not recommended for children under 15 due to the dynamic sound design, drug references and occasional coarse language.

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